GRAND-AM

Montoya Rolex 24 Bound?

During the IRL compatibility test at Daytona International Speedway, Scott Dixon dropped a hint to the media that former Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya could join him and Dan Wheldon to defend their Rolex 24 At Daytona crown in 2007.

Dixon and Wheldon teamed with Casey Mears in the Target Chip Ganassi No. 02 Lexus Riley to win the premiere event of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series this past January.

Mears will be leaving the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates organization at the end of this season and will be replaced by Montoya in the No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.

"I know it's going to be a Target car. I know they have been talking about me and Dan and Montoya as well," said Dixon before joking, "I don't know if I need to switch to the 01 car because I don't know if Montoya will bring (the car) back with any wheels.”

Should Montoya join the Rolex 24 effort, it would not be the first time he was behind the wheel of a Target sponsored car – having been sponsored by the retail store during his Champ Car and IRL days in 1999 and 2000.

Even though it is just a rumor at this point, it is a very promising proposition according to Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig.

"Wow, we’ve got I think 60 champions already that ran the last Rolex 24, let’s add another one. Especially one with that name and that team with Ganassi, our championship (winning) team. It would sell a lot of tickets for us.

“I would think we are all hoping for that kind of international flair in the Rolex. I enjoyed that years ago and that’s the goal to get back to that flair again.”

Expect an announcement from Target Chip Ganassi Racing with the complete driver lineup to come out in the next few weeks.